MAXXXTET - Chapter 3 (March 25, 2022 Flame Jazz Records)

Maxxxtet releases its long awaited third album called Chapter 3. The compositions and playing of the group continue to tell the unique story of Maxxxtet, which always includes surprise even to the experienced listener. The album consists of ten tunes; the rhythmic entity called the Demons 1-5 plus five melodic and dramatic compositions, each and every one of them made come to life by recognizable voices and sounds of Maxxxtet.

Maxxxtet is an unprejudiced and fresh jazz quartet, featuring alto saxophone/bass clarinetist Max Zenger, trumpeter Tomi Nikku, bassist Eero Tikkanen and drummer Jonatan Sarikoski.

Max, an adventure-seeking, multiculturally interested and multilingual musician writes tunes strongly influenced by his past and future experiences, adventures and encounters. The group relies on Max Zenger's compositions, making them come to life by using their unique voices on their instruments. Maxxxtet is tempting, impressive and explosive. Maxxxtet is telling real and unreal stories with its original music.

Max Zenger

1. Demoni 1

2. Brief of Bawa

3. Demoni 2

4. Echo

5. Demoni 3

6. Defekt Drone

7. Strange

8. Demoni 4

9. Still Strange

10. Demoni 5

Max Zenger - alto saxophone, bass clarinet, compositions

Tomi Nikku - trumpet, cornet

Jonatan Sarikoski - drums

Eero Tikkanen - bass

Design by Kasperi Salovaara

Recorded in January 2021 at Hollywood House Studios, Helsinki by Matias Kiiveri and Kaj Mäki-Ullakko

Mixed by Mäki-Ullakko, mastered by Kiiveri

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Tomi Nikku 5tet - Light & Shade (September 17, 2021 Flame Jazz Records)

Helsinki-based trumpet player Tomi Nikku presents his debut under his own name on Flame Jazz Records with the album ’Light & Shade’.

On his new album, you’ll hear his band Tomi Nikku 5tet, which has worked together since 2018 and features Max Zenger on alto sax / bass clarinet, Ilkka Uksila on vibraphone, Vesa Ojaniemi on bass, and Jonatan Sarikoski on drums. The 5tet’s instrumentation, which differs from the typical quintet formation with vibes in the rhythm section and bass clarinet in the front line, Nikku’s compositions, and the 5tet’s musicians’ recognizable and expressive voices create Tomi Nikku 5tet’s unique band sound.

Like the twofold title suggests, ’Light & Shade’ is assembled in halves. The ”light side” (side A on the LP) includes groovy and energetic ”Inceptum”, serene yet determined ”Who Goes First?” (written originally for Bowman Trio), and sweet and playful ”V.E.N.”, which is dedicated to Nikku’s firstborn child. The darker side (side B on the LP) includes melancholic solo trumpet track ”Trumpet Intro / Yearnin'”, strong minor piece ”Emboldened”, dreamy and wistful ”What Is It (That You’re So Afraid Of)”, and the album-closing track ”Yearnin’”.

”I tend to write more music when I’m really going through something in my life, whether that is something making me feel happy or unhappy. On this album, you will hear pieces that I have written when feeling super hyped about something ("Inceptum") or really, really happy and proud ("V.E.N."). You will also hear pieces written in a totally different mindset. The tunes like "What Is It" and "Yearnin'" both originated from the polarized atmosphere of the summer of 2020. Channeling those emotions onto these compositions certainly helped me to keep my head above water and keep me going. I've had a great time preparing this music and this album for you. I hope you enjoy it too!” -Tomi

Tomi Nikku 5tet’s ’Light & Shade’ will be available on vinyl, CD, and digitally.

1. Inceptum Intro

2. Inceptum

3. Who Goes First?

4. V.E.N.

5. Trumpet Intro / Yearnin'

6. Emboldened

7. What Is It (That You're So Afraid Of)

8. Yearnin'

Tomi Nikku, trumpet

Max Zenger, alto sax, bass clarinet

Ilkka Uksila, vibraphone

Vesa Ojaniemi, bass

Jonatan Sarikoski, drums

Composed by Tomi Nikku

Produced by Tomi Nikku

Recorded and mixed by Matias Kiiveri with assistant engineer Teppo Laitila at Hollywood House Studios (Trumpet Intro / Yearnin’ recorded by Tomi Nikku at Woodshed)

Mastered by Pauli Saastamoinen at Finnvox Studios

Photos by Jouni Raatikainen

Design by Kasperi Salovaara

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